The question is....when not using your RV, do you shut everything down or do you keep it plugged in? I was told 10 years ago to keep the RV plugged in and the refrigerator on. Shut off everything else like the furnace, AC unit, etc. recently I was told that when in storage to shut everything down and turn off the disconnect switch to the batteries. I have a Progressive Dynamics PD9260CV converter/charger with the charge wizard technology on board. It’s my understanding that this converter manages the charging of the batteries and “tends them” rather than cooking them. It’s also my understanding that turning a refrigerator off for long periods of time is what is hard on them. As a side note, we use our RV 6 to 8 times a year and it rarely sits more than 90 days without being used. Currently I keep my RV plugged into a 50 amp outlet at all times with my refrigerator on and all other appliances and lights turned off. So let’s hear it, how do you store your RV when not in use and why?

Fridge on/off........personal choice and ability to do so (power etc)Fridge has no moving parts.Cooling units are mfg'd and sit for long periods of time before being installed into fridge cabinetAssembled fridges sit for long periods before being installed into an RVRVs sit for long periods of time before being boughtSold RVs sit for long periods of time ON....if you have available power and RV is levelWhy not. My 5th wheel is sitting next to house plugged in/stocked---ready to go, as guest quarters and my man cave.(great place to cool down/relax when yard work/get hot----cold beverage and some TV)Fridge should have items inside...hard on cooling unit to maintain temps in a empty fridge....NO Mass to retain cold so cooling unit goes thru more frequent heating cycles Plus batteries are fully charged/maintained. Just check battery water levels weekly then monthly so you get an idea on water usage if any.COsts me roughly $40 month to have my 5th plugged in and READY!

Plugged in with the fridge off, unless another trip is coming with a week of two. Why use the power?With a PD9245 the single grp 29 Interstate battery didn’t use a drop of water in 5 years...two batteries over 10 years total. I quit checking it for water.

Leaving the fridge running may use about 5.7 KWH per day. That does add up over time. It would be environmentally friendly to turn it off.

when it's home it's plugged into 50-amp power with the residential fridge on along with vent fans, A/C or heat depending on the weather. storage lot is outdoors with no hookups so both chassis and coach batteries are disconnected using the salesman switches. i also prop open the fridge door. in the winter i stuff the fridge and freezer with newspaper.

The fridge won't go bad from sitting.Unless you are keeping it stocked to head out for the next trip, power off including the main battery switch.$40/month...is almost $500 per year for little or no benefit if you aren't stocked to head out. After 10yr, that's $5,000 guaranteed cost...a new fridge would be a lot cheaper (not that it's likely to fail anyway).I prefer disconnected as I've seen a couple of electrical fires in unattended units. Way more expensive than a new fridge.

Plug it in or shut it down | Good Sam Community

Crabbypatty
Explorer
Jul 08, 2019
During the "season" April-October, the camper is plugged in with the refrig on. In the "off season' Water systems are winterized with rv anti freeze, refrig is off with door left open, camper is plugged in, which keeps the batteries in shape. Been doing it this way for 15 years.
BillyBob_Jim
Explorer
Jul 08, 2019
pianotuna wrote:
It would be environmentally friendly to turn it off.

I would bet the folks telling people to be environmentally friendly leave the APU running on the private jet while it sits on the tarmac all day, just so it's nice and cool in the cabin when they return from the beach in St Barthelemy, having flew 2500 miles one way to get there for one day. :B
valhalla360
Navigator
Jul 08, 2019
The fridge won't go bad from sitting.

Unless you are keeping it stocked to head out for the next trip, power off including the main battery switch.

$40/month...is almost $500 per year for little or no benefit if you aren't stocked to head out. After 10yr, that's $5,000 guaranteed cost...a new fridge would be a lot cheaper (not that it's likely to fail anyway).

I prefer disconnected as I've seen a couple of electrical fires in unattended units. Way more expensive than a new fridge.
rk911
Explorer
Jul 08, 2019
when it's home it's plugged into 50-amp power with the residential fridge on along with vent fans, A/C or heat depending on the weather. storage lot is outdoors with no hookups so both chassis and coach batteries are disconnected using the salesman switches. i also prop open the fridge door. in the winter i stuff the fridge and freezer with newspaper.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Jul 08, 2019
Leaving the fridge running may use about 5.7 KWH per day. That does add up over time. It would be environmentally friendly to turn it off.
wnjj
Explorer II
Jul 08, 2019
Plugged in with the fridge off, unless another trip is coming with a week of two. Why use the power?

With a PD9245 the single grp 29 Interstate battery didn’t use a drop of water in 5 years...two batteries over 10 years total. I quit checking it for water.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jul 08, 2019
Fridge on/off........personal choice and ability to do so (power etc)

Fridge has no moving parts.
Cooling units are mfg'd and sit for long periods of time before being installed into fridge cabinet
Assembled fridges sit for long periods before being installed into an RV
RVs sit for long periods of time before being bought
Sold RVs sit for long periods of time

ON....if you have available power and RV is level
Why not.
My 5th wheel is sitting next to house plugged in/stocked---ready to go, as guest quarters and my man cave.(great place to cool down/relax when yard work/get hot----cold beverage and some TV)
Fridge should have items inside...hard on cooling unit to maintain temps in a empty fridge....NO Mass to retain cold so cooling unit goes thru more frequent heating cycles

Plus batteries are fully charged/maintained.
Just check battery water levels weekly then monthly so you get an idea on water usage if any.

COsts me roughly $40 month to have my 5th plugged in and READY!

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